Story of Community in Marton

Every graduation is unique and Marton graduations are an amazing community celebration.  This October 2014  we had 13 mums graduating from four schools - Marton Junction School, James Cook School, Rangitikei College and Marton School.

The amazing thing in Marton is how the schools work together - in particular Marton Junction and James Cook Schools with the Marton ICT hub to make sure their parents get access to technology.

Computers in Homes has a lot of people involved to make it happen - the principals, the trainer, the volunteers who give their time, the translator the technician and we are hugely grateful to them all.  Without the efforts of everyone we simply would not be able to offer this very successful model of working together to support us all.

It's not often we start with a class and have a 100% completion.  Congratulations to you all.  Thank you for being a wonderful group of people and we trust your whanau will enjoy your computers!

Also a special thanks to the Marton Junction children who made our celebration so special.

Marton Graduation October 2014 on PhotoPeach

Thank you Computers in Homes from Whanganui Learning Centre Graduates

On 16 September we gained 9 new graduates to our Computers in Homes families.  These 7 mums and 2 dads, like all of our families were doing Computers in Homes mainly for their kids.  They also have their own goals of studying and retraining.  We hope that their goals and aspirations for their families are helped by having a computer at home.  We really appreciated the gratitude that was expresses by the families for the teaching and learning they received and the opportunity that Computers in  Homes has given them.

We had a inspirational speech from Victoria Campbell   who spoke of how many years ago it was her first computer class that set her on a course of learning and now she is in graphic design and has been very successful.  She spoke of how she uses technology in her life and how she couldn't be without it now from telling her where she needs to be, to having the information on her tablet where ever she is.

It was great to have our MP Chester Borrows at our small gathering and to help with our certificates.

Congratulations to everyone and many thanks to the team both at Whanganui Learning Centre and Computers in Homes Whanganui for a lovely celebration of learning.

And here are all our graduates.

Whanganui Learning Centre Sept 2014 on PhotoPeach

Needing a computer at home to help your kids with their homework?

Computers in Homes is here to make sure all kids can access technology at home so no one misses out.  There are criteria so that we make sure that everyone gets a go.  I have been asked recently why people cannot do it again when they did it years ago and the computer is long dead.

The reason is so everyone gets a go.  Here in Whanganui there are 1,000 homes, with children, who have no access to technology.  That means 1,000 homes where children are finding it tough to do their homework, research their interests and engage with the digital world.  Computers in Homes is to give people a taste of what technology can do for them and their children.  And opportunity to experience and then become self reliant.  That is why we have our criteria.

The other thing people ask is $50 is a lot of money.  We know it is but relative to what you get it is enough that you become committed to learning and engaging with technology and finishing the course and not so much as a create an issue.  Here is Whanganui we ask people to pay $20 deposit to ensure they come to the course and $5 per week for the first six weeks.  We try to give plenty of notice of the courses coming up.   For the $50 you get a reconditioned computer with Windows 7 and MS Office 2010, we look after technical support for 12 months and internet is subsidised for 12 months.

Here is our criteria

This is where courses are running.  To join up go to the school and register:

GONVILLE :  Rutherford Junior High (Toi Street) starting Wed 3 Sept 9.30am to 12pm (8 weeks)

CITY:  Wanganui Intermediate (Dublin Street) starting Wed 3 Sept 12.30 to 3pm (8 weeks)

ARAMOHO:  Born and Raised Pasifika (2 Mitchell Street)  Thurs 28 August 12 to 2.30pm

CASTECLIFF:  Aranui School (Aranui Street)  Tuesday 2 Sept 9.30am to 12pm (8 weeks)

All parents, grandparents and after school carers of school children are welcome.

All 

A little bit of magic at Wanganui Girls College

Every now and again we get a group of mums together who inspire us and this was one of those groups. Together with Simon Waters who is an extraordinary tutor a remarkable group of woman came together to do this Computer in Homes class.

It was the stories our mums shared about their hopes, dreams and interests that made this group so special.  I believe this group will have amazing tales to share of how they used their computers at the end of 12 months.  Each of them had the goals, talents and potential to do what they dreamed of.

Even the way it all came together was different.  Two days before the class we had two people registered. We thought the class was not going to be able to go ahead - then - out of nowhere another 10 marvellous woman arrived and we embarked on a journey of discovery together.

Simon your students told me they had fish and chips and chocolate fish - none of the other tutors did this!!  I hope your class knew how lucky they were.

I trust you will enjoy and make the most of the opportunities technology brings

Arohanui - here are our mums and our youngest class member EVER!

And here is your class and graduation

Wanganui Girls College on PhotoPeach

Empowerment the theme of Te Kura O Kokohuia Graduation

This was my first graduation at Te Kura O Kokohuia and it was a extra special one. Our nine graduates were welcomed on to the marae and an exceptional day unfolded. Robin Ohia was our speaker and he spoke about the Computer opening doorways to any kind of learning we want to do. Through this we empower ourselves to learn about anything for which we have passion. We also had Hamish McDouall, Deputy Mayor and Labour Party candidate at our graduation. He is a great supporter of Computers in Homes Wanganui.

The students of Te Kura O Kokohuia sung some beautiful waiata and as I watched them I realised that we learn so much from watching those older than us. We watch, we copy, we learn. The amazing thing about computers is that us older ones now watch, copy and learn from the young ones who are so much more capable than us on the computer.

Thank you so much to Tuhi Smith, Principal at Te Kura O Kokohuia and Stephanie Paranihi-Simon without who's help this course would not have happened. And a special thanks to Petera Hudson for his sure, capable and steady hand through the training.

To the graduates - congratulations - this was your day. I hope and trust that this will be the beginning of your journey on the computer.

Here you all are

Here is a presentation of your day Te Kura O Kokohuia Computers in Homes Graduation on PhotoPeach

Farwell to the Ake Ake Centre and hello new graduates!!

This graduation was a special one as these 9 people and their whanau are the final graduates from the Ake Ake Centre in Castlecliff.  The Ake Ake Centre was established in July 2012 and since then 45 graduates for Computers in Homes have been trained over the last 2 years.

The graduates acknowledge the sad loss to their community of the Ake Ake Centre.  They also spoke of how through the Computers in Homes training at the Centre they have met their neighbours and new friends in the Community.  They hoped a new solution could be found so that this whakawhanaungatanga (this bringing together of people in relationships) would continue in our community.

Hon Chester Borrows (MP for Whanganui) , Hamish McDouall (Deputy Mayor Wanganui District Council) and Labour Party candidate) and Sharon Duff (PHO, New Chair of Wanganui Computers in Homes Steering Group and candidate for Council) were our special guests.

Two of our graduates were unable to attend due to illness but we wish them well.  This is Esta Kiriona with Chester Borrows (MP) and Petera Hudson (Trainer).  She bought them to their knees, literally, for this photo :).  Esta is a grandparent who did Computers in Homes so her moko can do their homework when they visit her each week.

Here are our whanau.

Ake Ake Centre Graduation May 2014 on PhotoPeach

Stories of our Computers in Homes Whanau in Whanganui

Every year we survey the families who graduated from Computers in Homes 12 months ago.  These stories tell us what people got from computers in homes.  I wanted to share with you a small sample of the comments that show why we have computers in homes.  Here are their stories:

• The whole world comes into your home having a computer. Having a computer is especially important for her children, for their homework.  "My daughter has done a lot of work around kapa haka. Both of my children have got better at maths. The games have helped my son which shows in that his mid-term report was good. They have come a long way. It is a blessing having a computer because the knowledge is here for them. You have the world and the library and everything in your house.”  - KW 29/11/2013

• GS says “to go from not knowing to being able to be in touch with people and have information right at your fingertips is an amazing thing.  He says he’s figured out how to get viruses off his PC really quickly now. He has completely stripped the PC apart and put it back together!  He is a motor mechanic by trade and often needs to get information. He now works from home, so it is really handy having the computer at home. Otherwise he would have to go to the library and photocopy stuff etc. It’s much more convenient and quicker this way.  It’s only been in the last couple of years that he has even started to use a computer.   “My son's skills have definitely improved, he's really adept on the computer.  - GS 4/12/2013

• "My children's reading skills have improved. They like reading the encyclopedias! My four year old's hand/eye coordination has improved. She can use the mouse and the arrows to move the cursor. They liked playing games when we had the internet on. My daughter loves the Daisy maths.  They go to what they know on the computer. I'm impressed with their progress, it gave me a fright when I discovered they were reading the encyclopedia! They tell me "it's cool to read it on the computer." I think the computer is an exciting way for them to learn. I "like" having the computer, and the kids "love" it. We’ve certainly saved petrol not going to the library."  TW 11/12/2013

I will keep adding these stories.  In the next three weeks we are finalising our course for July to December 2014.  I am hoping we will be offering 6 courses in Castlecliff, Gonville,three courses in two venues in the City, and Aramoho and Marton.  Keep checking here and our community on Facebook  Computers in Homes Wanganui.